HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Rider travels to Abilene Wylie in top game on Week 8 menu
It’s a lighter local high school football schedule for the Wichita Falls area in Week 8 of the season, but the many of the games being played are vital in district and playoff races.
Find a breakdown of five of the area’s biggest games, including where to get live updates, players to watch and more.
WEEKLY SPECIAL
RIDER at ABILENE WYLIE
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Hugh Sandifer Stadium
Live updates: Follow @Hull_TRN on X (formerly Twitter). Listen on ROHOSportsNetwork.com. Watch on wyliebulldogathletics.com/broadcasts.
Records: Rider 4-2, 1-0; Wylie 4-2, 1-0.
Last game: Rider 42, Abilene Cooper 21; Wylie 36, Plainview 34
Last meeting: Wylie 39, Rider 38 (2022); Rider leads all-time series 4-1.
Players to watch: Rider, Kenji Johnson (RB, Jr.), Jailyn Gibbs (DL, Sr.), Elijah Jackson (RB/DL, Sr.); Wylie, Braden Regala (WR, Sr.), Malachi Daniels (RB, Sr.), Bryant Meng (QB, Jr.).
Why it’s tasty: This is considered the de facto District 2-5A Division II championship game, although Plainview still hopes to have a say in that race. … Wylie narrowly escaped Plainview with a 36-34 victory last week. Quarterback Bryant “Bear” Meng threw two touchdown passes, but it was his 1-yard TD run with 1:17 left that put the game out of reach, 36-26. … Rider led 27-10 at halftime and 38-24 with 3:40 remaining in the game last season. But the scrambling of quarterback KJ Long and big play ability of receiver Braden Regala spurred an improbable comeback. Malachi Daniels got the ball over the goal line for the game-winning two-point conversion with 1:03 left to play. Wylie went on to win the District 2-5A DII title. … Daniels is the Bulldogs’ leading rusher this season with 563 yards and five TDs. Meng, who is the son of former Rider assistant and Burkburnett head coach Jason Meng, has completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,039 yards, 13 TDs and three interceptions. … Kenji Johnson and Elijah Jackson combined to rush for six touchdowns in Rider’s win against Abilene Cooper last week. For the season, the duo has combined for 950 yards and 17 TDs.
PigskinPrep.com says: Wylie by 4.
More: Windthorst returns, Graham tumbles in latest TRN Top 10 football rankings
PREMIUM ENTREES
WFHS at DECATUR
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Eagle Stadium
Live updates: Follow @CoryHogueSports on X (formerly Twitter). Listen on 100.9 FM or jackwichitafalls.com. Watch on decatureagles.net/broadcasts.
Records: WFHS 2-5, 1-0; Decatur 3-4, 1-0.
Last game: WFHS 41, Mineral Wells 26; Decatur 51, Burkburnett 21
Last meeting: Decatur 35, WFHS 21 (2022 state quarterfinals); Decatur leads all-time series 2-0.
Players to watch: WFHS, Ivy Kelley (DB, Sr.), Ivory Kelley (DB, Sr.), Eric Powell (RB, So.); Decatur, Nate Palmer (RB, Sr.), Jed Ross (QB, Jr.), Landon Felts (WR, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: The Coyotes and Eagles met twice last season with Decatur winning both meetings, including the Region I-4A Division I final. But the regular season matchup provided the more memorable finish. … Decatur prevailed with a 31-27 overtime victory at Memorial Stadium, but the Coyotes felt they scored the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds left in regulation. Ke’Ondrae Fleeks caught a pass from John Ledesma in the back of the end zone, but Fleeks was ruled out of bounds, although replay footage showed Fleeks get a foot inbounds. The Coyotes settled for a game-tying field goal, sending the game to overtime where Decatur escaped with a win and eventually the District 4-4A Division I title. … The Eagles feature TCU commit Nate Palmer at running back, who has rushed for 839 yards and 14 TDs on 117 carries, but Decatur runs a balanced offense. Quarterback Jed Ross has completed 71 percent of his passes for 1,328 yards, 14 TDs and 2 interceptions. … The Coyotes feature the top three tacklers in the Wichita Falls area with senior Ivy Kelley leading with 95 stops. His twin brother, Ivory, has 83 tackles, while linebacker Jacobey Clay has 77.
PigskinPrep.com says: Decatur by 29.
JACKSBORO at COMANCHE
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Indian Stadium
Live updates: Listen on 94.7 FM (Jacksboro). Watch on kcomradio.com.
Records: Jacksboro 6-0, 1-0; Comanche 3-3, 0-1.
Last game: Jacksboro 49, Eastland 24; Millsap 35, Comanche 22
Last meeting: Comanche 53, Jacksboro 33 (2022); Jacksboro leads all-time series 3-2.
Players to watch: Jacksboro, Lando Belcher (QB, Sr.), Cannon Valenzuela (WR/DB, Jr.), Luke Sams (RB/LB, Jr.); Comanche, Sawyer Wilkerson (RB, Jr.), Colt Schwertner (RB, So.), Diego Gutierrez (WR/DB, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: This was considered the District 5-3A Division II de facto championship game, but the injury bug has plagued Comanche. The Indians lost star running back Sawyer Wilkerson, who rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 TDs, to an ankle injury in Week 3. Wilkerson’s status for Friday night is unknown, but he did play last week against Millsap despite not being 100 percent. Sophomore Cole Schwertner has filled in admirably for Wilkerson, but the Indians have lost three straight since his injury, including a key district loss to Millsap last week. … Jacksboro has had some close calls but remains undefeated. The Tigers are averaging 45.8 points behind an explosive offense headlined by senior quarterback Lando Belcher (1,860 passing, 20 TDs) and complemented by junior tailback Luke Sams (733 rushing, 12 TDs).
PigskinPrep.com says: Jacksboro by 6.
APPETIZERS
CALLISBURG at CITY VIEW
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Veterans Field
Live updates: Listen on network1sports.com/station/cityviewmustangs.
Records: Callisburg 4-2, 1-0; City View 3-3, 0-1
Last game: Callisburg 47, S&S Consolidated 0; Henrietta 35, City View 28
Last meeting: Callisburg 34, City View 21 (2022); City View leads all-time series 3-2.
Players to watch: Callisburg, Zach White (TE/DL, Sr.), Jace Bower (RB/LB, Sr.); Jacob Dennington (OL/DL, Sr.); City View, Jacobe Monroe (QB, Sr.), Isaiah Anderson (WR/DB, Jr.), Ki’auntre Gresham (RB/LB, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: The matchup is key in deciding playoff seeding with both teams also maintaining District 6-3A Division II title hopes. A loss for City View would all but delegate them to the No. 4 seed and a first-round matchup with the District 5-3A DII champion. … City View struggled to move the ball in the second half last week against Henrietta, totaling just 49 yards in the final two quarters. That allowed Henrietta to rally from a 14-point deficit.
PigskinPrep.com says: City View by 4.
More: Fourth quarter surge pushes Henrietta football past City View in thriller
HOLLIDAY at HENRIETTA
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bearcat Stadium
Live updates: Follow @trnsports and ArcherCoSports on X (formerly Twitter).
Records: Holliday 5-1, 1-0; Henrietta 3-2, 1-0
Last game: Holliday 60, Valley View 0; Henrietta 35, Holliday 28
Last meeting: Holliday 41, Henrietta 14 (2022); Holliday leads all-time series 48-18-3.
Players to watch: Holliday, Grant Cox (QB, Sr.), Collin Hays (RB/LB, Sr.), Cooper Turner (OL/DL, Sr.); Henrietta, Garrett Blevins (QB/LB, Jr.), Blaze Deaton (RB/DB, Jr.), Klein Essler (WR/LB, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: Henrietta’s win against City View last week positioned it to be the top challenger to Holliday in the District 6-3A Division II title race. … This is one of the area’s most notable rivalries, although it has been lopsided in Holliday’s favor both recently and historically. The Eagles and Bearcats started playing each other in 1937 and have competed against each other almost every season since then. This is at least the 70th all-time meeting of this rivalry, although it’s possible the TRN’s series record is short a few games. Henrietta hasn’t defeated Holliday since 2016. … Since surrendering 40 points to Jim Ned in Week 2, the Eagles have allowed just 14 points in their last four games combined. They have shut out three of those four opponents with only Childress getting on the board in a 24-14 win for Holliday.
PigskinPrep.com says: Holliday by 15.
FULL MENU
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Friday unless noted. Schedule is subject to change.
Friday, Oct. 13
District 2-5A Division II
Rider at Abilene Wylie, 7 p.m.
District 4-4A Division I
WFHS at Decatur, 7 p.m.
District 3-4A Division II
Snyder at Graham, 7 p.m.
District 3-3A Division I
Bowie at Iowa Park, 7 p.m.
Vernon at Breckenridge, 7 p.m.
District 5-3A Division II
Jacksboro at Comanche, 7 p.m.
District 6-3A Division II
Callisburg at City View
Holliday at Henrietta
District 4-2A Division I
Olney at Anson, 7 p.m.
District 6-2A Division I
Trenton at Nocona
District 2-2A Division II
Clarendon at Quanah, 7 p.m.
District 7-2A Division II
Seymour at Electra, 7 p.m.
Munday at Windthorst, 7 p.m.
Archer City at Haskell, 7 p.m
District 9-A Division I
Bryson at Gordon
District 6-A Division II
Chillicothe at Crowell
Harrold at Paducah
Non-District
Keene at Throckmorton
Open: Hirschi, Burkburnett, Petrolia, Wichita Christian, Knox City, Forestburg, Newcastle, Northside, Gold-Burg, Benjamin
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Rider-Abilene Wylie, WFHS-Decatur 2023 high school football previews
